Ice tray



Nov. 30, 1948. s. w. E. ANDERssoN 2,454,958

ICE TRAY Filed April 5, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 1 llzllllllllllllll/- NOVf 30, 1948 s. w. E. ANDERssoN 2,454,958

ICE TRAY Filed April 5, 194e 2 'sheets-sheet 2 lll'.

, INVENTOR. Yv-Mv M'. MMM B Patented Nov. 30, 1943 ICE TRAY Sven W. E. Andersson, Evansville, llnd., assigner to Servel, Inc., New York. N. Y., a corporation of Delaware 13 Claims. l

This invention relates to grids for ice trays and particularly to ejector type grids for use with ice trays in domestic refrigerators.

It is an object of this invention to provide a grid for an ice tray that is inexpensive to manufacture in that the fabrication thereof is relatively simple.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a grid for an ice tray wherein the ice bond between the ice cubes and the tray and between the dividing walls of the grid is broken with ease and with a minimum of shattering of the ice cubes.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a grid for an ice tray wherein a large portion of the upper surface of the grid is fiat whereby a plurality of trays with grids contained therein may be stacked one on top of the other in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the following descriptions and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top planview of an ice tray grid embodying this invention:

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the grid illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. l, showing the grid in a conventional ice tray;

Fig. 4 is a. partial vertical sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the intermediate partition elements of the grid; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the end partition elements of the grid.

The grid, I0, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, is adapted to be used with a conventional ice tray I2. The grid primarily includes a plurality of vertical intermediate partitions I4 which are generally Z-shaped in transverse cross section, a pair of vertical end partitions I6 which are generally L-shaped in transverse cross section, a pair of horizontal frame members I8 connected at each end by a turnbuckle 20, and a pair of levers 22 for rotating the turnbuckles.

As shown particularly in Fig. '7, the Z-shaped partitions I5 each includes two transverse dividing walls 24 connected by an integral longitudinal dividing wall 26. The transverse Walls are formed at their upper outside corners with bent over ears 28, which ears are provided with two inside tabs 2 30, an outside tab 32 and a bent over end portion 34.

The end partitions, as best shown in Fig. 8, are each formed of a transverse dividing wall 24 and a longitudinal dividing wall 26. The upper outside corner of transverse wall 24' is provided with a bent over ear 28', which ear is provided with a tab 32. The upper end portion of longitudinal wall 26' is provided with an offset ear 36, which in turn is provided with a bent over end portion 34'.

Horizontal frame members I8, as best shown in Fig. 5, are identical and are formed, as by extrusion, with reinforcing flanges 42 and 44 along the longitudinal edges thereof, with the flanges 44 bent double to provide a groove or guide 46. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the tabs 30 of the intermediate partitions and the inside edges of ears 28' and 36 of the end partitions project into these grooves. Frame members I8, as previously stated are connected at their ends by turnbuckles 20.

Each of the turnbuckles 20 is identical and, as best shown in Fig. 6, includes a cylindrical sleeve 48, and a pair of screws and 50'., The screws are provided with right and left hand threads, respectively, and are adapted to engage right and left hand triple threads in the respective sides of the sleeve. Screws 50 and 50 are each provided with a rectangular shank 52 by which the turnbuckles are attached, as by rivets 54, to the ends of the frame members I8. The center of each of the sleeves 48 is drilled to receive one end of a lever 22. The levers are provided with decorative handles 56 and are attached to the sleeves of the turnbuckles by screw threads or, as shown in Fig. 3, by inserting one end of the lever into the opening in the sleeve and then peening over the end of the lever. As shown, the upper heads of the rivets, the upper surface of the sleeves and the upper surface of the handles are all substantially flush with the upper surface of the frame memn bers. By this arrangement, a number of trays with grids contained therein may be stacked one on top of the other.

In assembling the above described grid, the intermediate partitions I4 are arranged on the frame members I8 with the tabs 30 of the partitions located in the grooves 46 of the frame members and with the tabs 32 in alignment against the flanges 42 of the frame members. As shown in Fig, 4, the bent over portions 34 of the ears 28 abut against the adjacent partitions and form stops to hold the partitions in proper spaced relation. With the intermediate partitions neatly assembled on the frame members, the end partitions 3 are then applied to each end of the frame. Then the two turnbuckles are each assembled and adjusted, and finally the turnbuckles are riveted to the ends of the frame members. It is to be noted that the rectangular shanks 52 of the turnbuckles and the grooves 46 in the frame members are the only means of holding the partitions in assembled relation. In other words, while the partitions are held in neat assembled relation, they are nevertheless free to move relative to each other and to the frame members.

In operation, when it is desired to remove the frozen ice cubes from the tray, the handles 56 of the grid are lifted up and swung over about half a turn toward opposite ends of the grid thereby rotating the sleeves of the turnbuckles through half a revolution, causing the frame members to move towards each other. As the frame members are thus moved towards each other, the ears of the partitions act as levers and twist the upper corners of the transverse walls of these elements to peel them loose from the ice cubes. This flexing progresses along the transverse Walls and eects the longitudinal walls in a final compression of the Z-shaped elements. Movement of the frame members towards each other causes the L-shaped end partitions to be flexed in substantially the same manner as are the Z-shaped partitions. It is to be noted that the screw pitch of the turnbuckles is such that during operation of the grid the horizontal frame members are pulled together a distance on the order of only one-tenth of an inch, and while this movement is sufficient to free the ice cubes from the tray and from the partition walls of the grid, it is insufficient to cause permanent distortion of any part of the grid.

My improved grid has been illustrated and described as being operableto free ice cubes therefrom by forcing the frame members towards each other. However, it has been found in practice that the grid will operate with equal facility by arranging the turnbuckles and the ears of the partition elements so that the frame members are forced away from each other. This is accomplished by reversing the threads of the turnbuckles, by locating the guides 46 on the outside of the frame members instead of on the inside thereof, by locating the tabs 30 on the outside of the ears and by locating the tabs 32 on the inside of the ears. The reason for this shifting of the tabs relative to the ears is that force applied to the ears by moving the frame members toward or away from each other, as the case may be, should be applied to the single tabs 32 rather than to the double tabs 30. It has also been found that the two turnbuckles may be replaced by a single turnbuckle attached between the mid portions of the frame members. My invention is therefore not to be limited to the particular embodiment illustrated and described but only within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an ice tray, a grid removably mounted in the tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising a series of separatev partition elements each constituting at least one longitudinal and one transverse dividing wall, and means attached to upper portions of said transverse dividing walls and bodily movable relative thereto for uniting said partition elements into a unitary grid structure, said means being operable to apply a twisting force to said partition elements.

2. In combination, an ice tray. a grid removably mounted in the tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprisinga series. of separate partition elements each constituting at least one longitudinal and one transverse dividing wall, and means attached to upper portions of said transverse dividing walls and bodily movable relative thereto for uniting said partition elements into a unitary grid structure, said means being operable to apply twisting forces to opposite ends of said partition elements.

3. In combination, an ice tray, a grid remov ably mounted in the tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice cube compartments. said grid including a series of separate intermediate partition elements eachv constituting one longitudinal and two transverse dividing Walls, a pair of separate end partition elements each constituting a longitudinal and a transverse dividing wall, and means attached to the upper portions of said transverse dividing walls and bodily movable relative thereto for uniting said partition elements into a unitary grid structure, said means being operable to apply a twisting force to said partition elements.

4. In combination, an ice tray, a grid removably supported in said tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising a pair of frame members having flat upper surfaces traversing the length of the tray at each side thereof, a plurality of dividing members supported by said frame members for movement relative thereto, each of said dividing members constituting longitudinal and transverse partitions, and means for moving said frame members in opposite directions transverse of the tray whereby said dividing members are twisted and peeled from the ice cubes.

of dividing members supported by said framemembers, each of said dividing members constituting longitudinal and transverse partitions, and

means for moving said frame members in opposite directions relative to the tray whereby said dividing members are twisted and peeled from the ice cubes.

6. In combination, an ice tray, a grid removably supported in said tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising a pair of frame members having flat upper surfaces traversing the length of the tray at each side thereof, said frame members being connected together for movement relative to each other, a plurality of dividing members supported by said frame members for movement relative thereto, each of said dividing members constituting longitudinal and transverse partitions, and means for moving said frame members in opposite directions parallel to the transverse partitions whereby said dividing members are twisted and peeled from the ice cubes.

'7. In combination, an ice tray, a grid removably supported in the tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising a pair of frame memmove bodily with respect to eachother and with respect to the frame members, and means for moving the frame members relative to each other whereby the partitions are twisted to free the ice cubes therefrom and from the tray.

8. In combination, an ice tray, a grid removably supported in the tray for dividing the inte'- Yrior thereof into a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising a pair of frame members each having a relatively flat upper surface and a channelled lower surface, a series of partitions each including longitudinal and transverse dividing walls, means supporting the partitions connected to upper portions of the transverse in the channelled portion of the frame members in such a manner that the partitions are free to move bodily with respect to each other and v with respect to the frame members, and means for moving the frame members in opposite direc-l tions parallel to the transverse axis of the tray whereby the partitions are twisted to free the ice cubes therefrom and from the tray.

9. Ine combination, an ice tray, `a grid removably supported in said tray for dividing the int'erior thereof into a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising a pair of longitudinal frame members, means connecting said frame members for movement toward and away from each other, a plurality of Z-shaped partitions movably mounted on said frame members. each of said partitions including longitudinal and transverse dividing walls, and means for moving said frame members relative to ea^h other and to said Z-shapxeld members lwhereby said Z-shaped members are twisted and compressed to free the ice cubes therefrom.

10. In combination, an ice tray, a grid removably supported in said tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising a plurality of frame members, means connecting said frame members for movement relative to each other. a series of Z-shaped partitions movably 'mounted on said frame members, each of said partitions including longitudinal and transverse dividing walls. and means for moving said frame members relative to each other whereby said Z-shaped members are twisted and elongated to freei the ice cubes from the 'tray and from the dividing walls of uthe grid. s s

11. In combination,.an ice tray and a grid removably mounted in said -tray for dividing the interior thereof into a plurality of longitudinal rows of ice cube compartments, said grid comprising means forming a longitudinal dividing wall, a plurality of transverse dividing walls projecting from each side of said longitudinal dividing wa'll, a first operating member operatively connected to upper portions of the transverse dividing walls on one side of said longitudinal wall for applying a ilexing force thereto in one direction, a second operating member operatively dividing walls on the opposite side of said longitudinal wall for applying a flexing force thereto in avdirection opposite to that applied to the transverse dividing walls on the other side of the longitudinal wall, said first and second operating members being bodily movable relative to each other, tothe transverse dividing walls and to the longitudinal wall, and leverage mechanism movable through a vertical plane for moving said tirs and second operating members in opposite directions, the constructionand arrangement being such that the transverse dividing walls on one sideof the vlongitudinal wall are flexed in one direction while the transverse dividing walls on the other side of the longitudinal wall are flexed in an opposite direction to free ice cubes from said compartments.

12. A grid for dividing an ice cube tray into compartments, said grid comprising a flexible.

vertical partition and members connected to the upper part of said partition at points spaced therealong and projecting horizontally from the top of the partition, said members being movable to flex said partition by the applicationthereto of opposed forces parallel to but displaced laterally from the partition. Y

13. A grid for dividing an ice tray into compartments, said grid comprising .a plurality o! flexible transverse dividing walls, operating members connected to said transverse dividing walls and movable toward and away from eachother for exing said transverse walls to free ice cubes therefrom, and mechanism for applying forces in directions parallel to the transverse dividing walls and upon said members to cause said movement thereof.

SVEN W. E. ANDERSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNrrEn STATES PATENTS Number Bauer Mar.l`25, 1947 

